News Briefs: November 1, 2017 issue

News November 1, 2017

Camosun keeps firebombers safe

Camosun Innovates, the applied research branch of the college, is working on a project to help those battling forest fires throughout BC through a partnership with Conair Aviation. The project keeps tabs on pilot fatigue and vital signs using Fitbits and heart rate monitors. The overall goal of the project is to keep pilots informed of when they’re not fit to fly.

Bear sighted near Interurban campus 

A black bear was caught on a surveillance camera near Camosun’s Interurban campus last month. BC conservation officers said the bear was seen on West Saanich Road at 5 am on October 19.

This story originally appeared in our November 1, 2017 issue.

Camosun helps create time capsule 

Saanich’s Canada 150 Committee recently created a time capsule to remember Canada’s 150th year as a country, and Camosun was one of four sponsor partners that helped make the time capsule happen. The capsule will hold about 50 items and will be opened in 2067.

Camosun switches to the cloud

Camosun has become the first post-secondary institution in Canada to utilize Ellucian’s Colleague enterprise resource planning cloud software. According to a press release, Colleague cloud software will allow Camosun to easily track student data and have access to disaster-recovery capabilities. Colleague is, according to the press release, secure and private cloud software; Camosun has been using Colleague, in a non-cloud format, for over 20 years.

Camosun helps to design labyrinth

Camosun’s horticulture program recently helped design Providence Farm’s new labyrinth garden. Providence Farm, which is located in Duncan, opened the garden on October 10. Providence Farm is a non-profit therapeutic farm providing programs for people facing barriers to education and work.

Dalhousie student under fire 

Dalhousie University recently implemented then revoked a disciplinary process against Dalhousie Student Union vice-president of academic and external Masuma Khan. Khan wrote Facebook posts pertaining to “white fragility” after facing backlash about the student union passing a motion to not participate in Canada 150 celebrations. Dalhousie, which initially suggested as an informal resolution that Khan undergo counselling and write an essay about what happened, ended up withdrawing their disciplinary process against Khan.